Labour to outline proposals to fix UK’s ‘tarnished international reputation’

A Labour government would “reset” British foreign policy and reverse the country’s “tarnished international reputation”, according to the shadow foreign secretary. David

Lammy will use a speech on Tuesday in London to set out Labour’s plan for reshaping the UK’s foreign policy outlook. He will accuse “ideological leadership and reckless

choices” of leaving the UK “increasingly disconnected from its closest allies”, vowing to instead establish the “right priorities” to enable the country to “thrive” on the world

stage. In an address at Chatham House, Labour said Mr Lammy will outline how a future Labour administration would produce a “mission statement” – founded on five goals – for

reorienting the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Ideological leadership and reckless choices have left Britain a tarnished international

reputationShadow foreign secretary David Lammy The policies – part of Labour’s Britain Reconnected, For Security And Prosperity At Home contract with voters – are expected

to give the department the “clarity of purpose it currently lacks”, the party said. The proposals include working more closely with the European Union on security, boosting

trade in the “industries of the future” and restoring Britain’s “soft power”, which Mr Lammy will say includes protecting the BBC World Service from further cuts. The FCDO

has come under fire for its part in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, while Foreign Secretary-led talks with the EU on changing the Northern Ireland Protocol have

dragged on for years.